Hello,
I seem to have solved the problem on my current problem XP machine …
But I am not too sure how……..
As often, I solve these problems when I give up any sensible logic and go into a mad frenzy of doing lots of things at the same time, ( most of which I usually get warnings about telling me not to do…)...
I tried a couple of Driver discs, a couple of USB WLAN “dongles” along with their small ( half sized ) CD software, and did a lot of other things , often repeating things already tried, ... and often I just randomly pulled the mains plug on the Notebook and started a random combination of things again. Basically I did all the things that really upset computer professionals when I tell them about it
At one point in the Chaos, a small pop up came up telling me that WLAN connections were available. This is usually a good thing to see, but I had not seen it before on this problem XP computer for the last few days, at least since I have had the problem. I quickly clicked on it, picked my router from the list that came up , chose to connect, and added the password when asked. etc... etc...
But Still no success, ... but I had a feeling in my bones that I was getting close.
I tried one of the many offered “Diagnose/ Repair” options, which I had tried many times in the last few days, but until now had had no success.
This time it told me to do something , which once again, I had also been told to do a few times before over the last few days, but which had also until now never helped.
This time it worked…
This is what I did:
_From the System Tray at the bottom of the screen, I right clicked on the small icon for the WLAN connection, and chose to look at all available WLAN connections
_ Then I selected something like “
Change Advanced settings ” :
Change Advanced Settings.jpg :
https://imgur.com/QdziyP6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
_ A window then pops up from which I select something like “
Wireless connections”
Click On Wireless Connecions.jpg :
https://imgur.com/TR4wvuK" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
_ The window changes to another, and in that I check something like “
Use windows to configure”
Click On Use Windows to configure.jpg :
https://imgur.com/rjXE9cs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Click On Use Windows to configure.jpg
_ Then I hit
OK in that last window
Success.... here I am connected successfully to the Internet.
Success.jpg :
https://imgur.com/TUm2twt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ,
https://imgur.com/Z7svp1V" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Success.jpg
The first Network Adaptor shown above is the now working WLAN adaptor to my Router.
(The second adaptor is for the fixed RJ45 LAN cable connection to my Router. That started working last night, and works as soon as the cable is plugged in )
The only new thing I notice is the reference to something like “
802.11b/g ……..”…. on the now working WLAN network adaptor.
https://imgur.com/Z7svp1V" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . That is strange. I do not have that strange number on any of my other XP computer’s WLAN Network adaptors. *****
I note that this strange number,
802.11 , seemed to keep popping up when I was randomly installing software for the USB WLAN dongles.
You can see that number if you do anything with a USB WLAN dongle. For example, in those last two screenshots , I do not have any USB dongle connected. But I have working WLAN to my router and I have been surfing the internet with Google Chrome or internet explorer successfully.
If however, I now stick in one of the USB WLAN dongles, then you can see that there is a similar reference to that
802.11 ,
https://imgur.com/GsnTfp1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , in the extra Network Adaptor that appears as a result of connecting that USB WLAN dongle:
USB WLAN Dongle Network Connector.jpg :
https://imgur.com/k0hmt70" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ,
https://imgur.com/GsnTfp1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
***** Here for comparison is a more typical working XP WLAN Network Connector. ( Before I had all the problems on the problem machine, I had this sort of adaptor also showing up and working normally on the problem machine)
Typical XP WLAN.jpg :
https://imgur.com/sEbM5hK" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Typical XP WLAN.jpg
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It is good that I have the problem now solved. But as often , I am very frustrated that I cannot be sure exactly what the solution was, or what exactly the problem was.
Maybe my unconventional way of tackling the problem has caused some software from the USB WLAN dongle to slip into the normal WLAN Network adaptor and make it work ??
( One other thing I did, was go against my usual principal and tried downloading a software that checks for and automatically adds any missing drivers or software from the Internet. I tried that twice, but that crashed both times at different points... But maybe that all added to the anerchy that finally got things working ) )
_._______________________
I suppose the thing I should try to consider now is somehow storing all the settings and what not that I have currently….. but the world of Recovery Discs and how to use them is another jungle of imprecise concepts and imprecise definitions that gives me a headache…
_.______________________
Anyway, Thanks everyone for the contributions.
( I can start “Painting” the cover on this XP machine now appropriately for my wife to take on her Bike holiday with her next week… :) )
Alan
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